"Jim Theis - The Eye of Argon (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Theis Jim)

soldier, too far consumed by the influences of his virile brew to take note
of the superior size of his adversary.
Grignr lithly bounded from the startled female, his face lit up to an
ashen red ferocity, and eyes locked in a searing feral blaze toward the
swaying soldier.
"To hell with you, braggard!" Bellowed the angered Ecordian, as he
hefted his finely honed broad sword.
The staggering soldier clumsily reached towards the pommel of his
dangling sword, but before his hands ever touched the oaken hilt a silvered
flash was slicing the heavy air. The thews of the savages lashing right
arm bulged from the glistening bronzed hide as his blade bit deeply into
the soldiers neck, loping off the confused head of his senseless tormentor.
With a nauseating thud the severed oval toppled to the floor, as the
segregated torso of Grignr's bovine antagonist swayed, then collapsed in a
pool of swirled crimson.
In the confusion the soldier's fellows confronted Grignr with
unsheathed cutlasses, directed toward the latters scowling make-up.
"The slut should have picked his quarry more carefully!" Roared the
victor in a mocking baritone growl, as he wiped his dripping blade on the
prostrate form, and returned it to its scabbard.
"The fool should have shown more prudence, however you shall rue your
actions while rotting in the pits." Stated one of the sprawled soldier's
comrades.
Grignr's hand began to remove his blade from its leather housing, but
retarded the motion in face of the blades waving before his face.
"Dismiss your hand from the hilt, barbarbian, or you shall find a foot
of steel sheathed in your gizzard."
Grignr weighed his position observing his plight, where-upon he took
the soldier's advice as the only logical choice. To attempt to hack his
way from his present predicament could only warrant certain death. He was
of no mind to bring upon his own demise if an alternate path presented
itself. The will to necessitate his life forced him to yield to the
superior force in hopes of a moment of carlessness later upon the part of
his captors in which he could effect a more plausible means of escape.
"You may steady your arms, I will go without a struggle."
"Your decision is a wise one, yet perhaps you would have been better
off had you forced death," the soldier's mouth wrinkled to a sadistic grin
of knowing mirth as he prodded his prisoner on with his sword point.
After an indiscriminate period of marching through slinking alleyways
and dim moonlighted streets the procession confronted a massive seraglio.
The palace area was surrounded by an iron grating, with a lush garden upon
all sides.
The group was admitted through the gilded gateway and Grignr was
ledalong a stone pathway bordered by plush vegitation lustfully enhanced by
the moon's shimmering rays. Upon reaching the palace the group was granted
entrance, and after several minutes of explanation, led through several
winding corridors to a richly draped chamber.
Confronting the group was a short stocky man seated upona golden
throne. Tapestries of richly draped regal blue silk covered all walls of
the chamber, while the steps leading to the throne were plated with